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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I could not handle the setup. The grooming made me cringe.
4 stars, leaning towards 4.5 stars and will probably change my rating upon a reread.
I'm having trouble writing a review for this book because it is so dense with political intrigue, religious and geographical worldbuilding, as well as a fascinating look into a world that not only accepts sexual proclivity, but sees it as a form of worship.
I'm sure people will be put off by the BDSM depicted in this book or just write it off as erotica, but never did I feel the sex scenes in this book were purely gratuitous. Some were explicit to be sure and even off putting depending on your tastes, but Phedre performs these acts for her own pleasure as well as to gather information for her patron.
There is also a strange power balancing that happens because she is chosen by Kushiel (the god of pain). While these humiliating and degrading acts are being performed on her, she still finds pleasure in them and for most of the book actively has a choice in whether or not she wants to engage in these acts or be with these people.
Also, to my surprise, while her activities as a spy and courtesan play in an important role in the book, the main theme of the book is love and politics! Love to one's country, one's family, and the extreme measures people will go to protect both. I've heard from others book two gets even better and book three is the best out of the trilogy. I couldn't put this book down, so I look forward to continuing the series.
I'm having trouble writing a review for this book because it is so dense with political intrigue, religious and geographical worldbuilding, as well as a fascinating look into a world that not only accepts sexual proclivity, but sees it as a form of worship.
I'm sure people will be put off by the BDSM depicted in this book or just write it off as erotica, but never did I feel the sex scenes in this book were purely gratuitous. Some were explicit to be sure and even off putting depending on your tastes, but Phedre performs these acts for her own pleasure as well as to gather information for her patron.
There is also a strange power balancing that happens because she is chosen by Kushiel (the god of pain). While these humiliating and degrading acts are being performed on her, she still finds pleasure in them and for most of the book actively has a choice in whether or not she wants to engage in these acts or be with these people.
Also, to my surprise, while her activities as a spy and courtesan play in an important role in the book, the main theme of the book is love and politics! Love to one's country, one's family, and the extreme measures people will go to protect both. I've heard from others book two gets even better and book three is the best out of the trilogy. I couldn't put this book down, so I look forward to continuing the series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Didn't like the slowness, the writing style or the characters. Plus I don't have enough knowledge about European geography or history to really appreciate the references. The spicy scenes were very hard to get through considering she is literally a groomed child sex worker who is celebrated by everyone.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish the side characters added more to the world. Seemed like they didn’t exist or have solid motivations/lives outside of Phedre. I enjoyed it but don’t know if I’ll read the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Trafficking
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
This was a really long, but good read. It was wonderful to have a fantasy boook with a female lead character. I did not realize when I started it that it was the first book of a triology! I look forward to reading the other books.
Wow. This book was so much more than I expected! Thank you to all who recommended it and to Jessie for gifting it to me.
An extremely annoying trashy writing style. Honestly cringe.
Boring. Lazy worldbuilding (it's basically Western and Central Europe with most of its history intact, how is this even classed as Fantasy?)
The MC is born with a red spot in the eye: the mark of a born masochist. Apart from that she is "perfect". See the cringe.
Also: DON'T. SEXUALISE. KIDS.
All that brainwashing turns my stomach.
Boring. Lazy worldbuilding (it's basically Western and Central Europe with most of its history intact, how is this even classed as Fantasy?)
The MC is born with a red spot in the eye: the mark of a born masochist. Apart from that she is "perfect". See the cringe.
Also: DON'T. SEXUALISE. KIDS.
All that brainwashing turns my stomach.
Initially I struggled with the dialect. But I got over it. I also struggled with all of the names of the characters in terms of remembering who was where on the chessboard of their political intrigues. I think perhaps in the beginning this was purposeful - we are as confused as Phedre, but by the end it had progressed to me feeling stupid (I'm not) when I couldn't follow the thread of the game.
With all that said, the story line kept me rapt, and it is beautifully written.
The sex is certainly there, but it doesn't spend as much time in the forefront as you might expect, at least not graphically. And even the graphic parts aren't all that graphic, as these things go, given the style of writing and the propensity of the narrator to demure or gloss over bits of it.
Downloading the next installment even as I type this.
With all that said, the story line kept me rapt, and it is beautifully written.
The sex is certainly there, but it doesn't spend as much time in the forefront as you might expect, at least not graphically. And even the graphic parts aren't all that graphic, as these things go, given the style of writing and the propensity of the narrator to demure or gloss over bits of it.
Downloading the next installment even as I type this.
dark
emotional
slow-paced